Is It Worth Starting Ballet Again at 17?

Deciding whether to continue or restart ballet at 17 depends on several factors, including your interests, goals, and current level of commitment.

Passion for Dance

Evaluating your passion for dance is crucial. If you have a strong interest in ballet and enjoy dancing, continuing can be fulfilling and enjoyable. As the saying goes, 'there is no trying, you either can do it or you can’t.'

Physical Benefits

Ballet offers numerous physical benefits such as improved flexibility, strength, and coordination. If these aspects are important to you, it might be worth pursuing. Remember, health is wealth, and ballet can be an excellent investment in your overall well-being.

Skill Development

Returning to ballet can help you refine your technique and enhance your overall dance skills, especially if you’ve been involved in other dance styles. It’s like adding layers to a masterpiece—each new technique builds on the previous one.

Social Opportunities

Joining a ballet class or community can provide social interactions with others who share your interests. Building a supportive network can make the experience more enriching and enjoyable. Dancing is an art that brings people together.

Time Commitment

Consider whether you can balance ballet with your other commitments such as schoolwork or other extracurricular activities. Time management is key to a successful and fulfilling journey.

Instructors and Classes

Look for local studios or classes that fit your schedule and provide a supportive learning environment. Starting with a beginner class might be the right move, even if you have previous experience. Your body has changed since you last danced, and starting from the beginning is a healthy approach.

Password Encouragement

During this journey, remember to encourage yourself. Sometimes, when we redouble our efforts, things don’t work out as we expect. It’s important not to give up. Believe in yourself and keep pushing forward.

Real ballet training typically begins around age 7 or 8, when both the mind and body are mature enough to handle turnout. At age 4, you weren’t really doing ballet. At best, you can call that pre-ballet. However, your body has changed significantly since age 12. There is no reason you can’t start ballet again, but you need to start in a beginner teen or teen/adult ballet class.

Even if you remember a lot from your previous ballet experience, your body has lost all that muscle and technique over the years. Trying to start back where you left off will only slow your progress down. Just like professional ballet dancers who have taken a year off due to injury, they start back in an advanced beginner class at the affiliate feeder school to their ballet company until they can back up to speed.